Its been crazy around here
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Hey guys, it seems every little damn part is setting me back 3-4 days at a time. While waiting for more parts from summit, I did a quick mockup, let me know what you think. I have had small issue after small issue, nothing thats not to be expected when building an engine, just irritating shit. Here ya go, ya like?
Labels: 408 rotating assembly, 408 stroker kits, ford strokers
posted by SteveO @ 4:43 PM, , links to this post
Hey guys, been awhile since I updated everyone
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Let me say the last 2 weeks have been fun, I will have a ton of pictures of what has been done on the 408 stroker, what still needs to be done and some of the trials and tribulations I have went through. Everything from wacked out timing crank gears, front covers and piston to valve clearance. I got some great pictures coming, stay tuned.
Labels: 408 stroker engine, ford stroker engines, stroker build
posted by SteveO @ 7:17 AM, , links to this post
Setting up valve springs on my canfield 195 cylinder heads
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Well I fast forwarded, got all my intake and exhaust port work done, now it's time to start assembling my canfields. I am using a comp cams 998 valve spring, which when installed at 1.880 will be around 240lbs of seat pressure and the open rate is I believe about 680 lbs. It's a 1.6250 diameter spring. I am also using a comp cams titanium retainer, comp cams 10 degree super locks and comp cams valve spring locator which is an inner diameter locator instead of the typical outer diameter cup style.
I am using a +.100 long 2.08-1.60 intake and exhaust valve to get the install height above 1.860. I was trying to achieve a 1.900 install height to keep the pressure down, but going to have to live with the 1.880 for now. I could have used a +.050 lock but that would present other problems in relation to my shaft rocker setup I will be running, I will go over that in detail when time comes.
One thing you will find out real quick when working with a near 700 lb valve spring, your spring compressor better be up to par or you will not get very far at all. Fortunately I have a very nice pneumatic compressor and with 140lbs of tank pressure, it compresses the valve spring just far enough. A cheaply made manual compressor with collapse damn near instantly when attempting to compress the valve springs.
One last thing before pictures, remember all locks, retainers are not created equal. When I was using my install height micrometer I would run into one valve setup that would yield 1.865 install height, I would simply change out the locks or the retainer from a different one and voila, I would achieve my 1.880 height I was looking for. I think it's very normal to have a .010-.015 thou variance in these machined parts, keep it in mind when setting up your heads.
Oh ya one last thing, I know alot of guys wont have access to this but I did have some install heights that would not go over 1.865 so I had to put the spring locator in my lathe and take .010-.015 thou off it it to achieve my desired 1.880, which by the way this spring has coil bind at 1.090 and with my custom solid roller camshaft, I will have over .120 thou before coil bind at max lift, good to go!
First mock up with height micrometer, 1.858 install height.
This next picture, all I did was switch some locks and retainers and got the 1.880 install height I wanted. Keep in mind even though this pic shows I am off a few thou on the desired 1.880, I can not exert the same as a 245lb spring, so I can guarantee once the spring is installed it will be atleast 1.880
So, basically rinse and repeat 8 times per cylinder head. Here is a shitty picture of the 2.08-1.60 intake and exhaust valves. I am using Ferrea 6000 series stainless valves. I really like these Ferrea valves and have used them numerous times before.
Here is a quick glimpse at the inner spring diameter locator, and the intake ports with a bit of work done to them. They have been ported slightly and ready for use with a fel-pro 1262 intake gasket.
Here are a few shots of the first finished canfield 195 cylinder head. Mind you I will be leaving 2 springs off on the next head and will be using a checking spring on the intake and exhaust. Don't even think it's wise to use your regular spring when checking piston to valve clearance or pushrod length with an adjustable pushrod.
Ok that's all for now, I have alot more coming up. Were getting closer. Oh also, I want to thank Jim at FordStrokers again for being very patient with me through this build of mine. He is first class in my book. Till next time..
Labels: canfield valve spring install, comp cams titanium retainers, comp cams valve springs, titanium retainers, valve springs
posted by SteveO @ 8:57 PM, , links to this post
Exhaust port work on canfield 195 heads....Done
Monday, April 9, 2007
Hey guys, been a few days. I been in the garage grinding my life away! The exhaust ports have come out very nice if I do say so myself. I dont have a flow bench, don't care to have one either so I cant race my flow bench against another guys. If I didn't pick up a decent amount of HP I would be very shocked. I will never know actually since the car was never run with a before and after test, but with my past projects I most certainly picked up with this type of port work. So I am very confident this time as well. Well I will let the pictures speak for themselves.
Here is a pic of me roughing in the newly shaped exhaust port as compared to as casted.
Just a closer shot of the rough shaping work done to the port.
Here is a different lighting shot once the port is final ported, this is the roof obviously
Fast forward and here is a few pics of the finished exhaust ports
I have started work on the intake ports, will have those pics up soon.
Labels: canfield 195 exhaust ports, canfield exhaust ports, ported canfield heads
posted by SteveO @ 9:22 PM, , links to this post
Doing a little port work on my canfields
Friday, April 6, 2007
Hey guys I am back, this time with some of the cylinder head work I been doing on my canfields I received this week. This will be my third time using canfield cylinder heads on a small block ford. The first time I used the 195cc canfield 58cc chamber on a fairly radical 306 inch small block. The second time I used the exact same head on a street driven 347, and now as you know this set of canfields is destined for my 408 inch small block ford stroker.
I absolutely love canfield heads, they are not as frequently used as the run of the mill TFS, Edelbrock, AFR and so forth. To me, not only the awesome performance I get from them, but the fact that I can actually be a little different is awesome. Don't get me wrong, I am not trading performance for uniqueness. These heads kick ass and the quality that I have received as far as the castings go, has been very good. John Fenton the owner of canfield is a great guy to deal with and that is one reason also, that I use canfields.
99% of the time, I buy my cylinder heads bare, this way I can put the hardware I want and need in them, not everyone has this luxury, but for me it has worked out the best. Wether it be an AFR, Vic Jr, TFS I always try to get them bare. I got this bare set from Jay Allen at Camshaft Innovations.
Ok onto what I have done thus far, I am using a Fel-Pro 1487 exhaust gasket, which is fairly large. I like the fact that the canfields come a little undersize with plenty of meat left in them to let me do what I want to do with the ports. This first picture will show the size on the exhaust port as casted versus the size of the gasket and the finished exhaust port after I do my thing.
You can see how they come as casted and the size of them, there is a ton of material left in them to do any port work you see fit. I dont just open up the end of the port to the gasket size, I go about 1 inch in and open up the whole port, wether or not this is right or wrong is subjective to opinion BUT has always worked very well for me. Do as YOU see fit. Here is another shot.
The last picture in this post will give you a look at the valve guide boss and with just 30 seconds of clean up look at how nice and streamlined it is. I must empasize the quality of the casted surface is awesome, very quick bowl work makes a huge difference.
I will have more pictures of the intake side and more exhaust work coming real soon. If you have any comments, feel free to leave them.
Labels: 195 canfield heads, canfields, ported canfield cylinder heads
posted by SteveO @ 10:33 AM, , links to this post
Got my canfield 195 cylinder heads today
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Ups man showed up with a special little package from Canfield Cylinder Heads. I have used them in the past and was very happy with the fit and finish so I decided it was time for another set. I got a bare set that were set up for my 2.08 intake 1.600 valve size. The chambers are cnc ported and they did a little bowl work, which I will expand upon in the next week.
There is something refreshing about not following the leader and thinking outside the box when it comes t cylinder heads, I see most guys running a trick flow, victor jr or afr head. This is another reason I chose Canfields. The owner John fenton is a fabulous guy to deal with also.
Remember canfield makes ALOT of private label cylinder heads such as, all the Bill Mitchell Hardcore Chevy heads, the Ford Z-304 Heads, the Jegs branded small block ford heads and many other auto parts. Here is a picture out of the box. I will have many more this week. My 408 stroker is coming along nicely and I have about 85% of the needed parts to complete it. I also threw in a quick mock up of what it will look like :)
Till next time!
Labels: 195 canfield, 408 canfield heads, canfield 195, canfield cylinder heads, canfield heads
posted by SteveO @ 10:31 AM, , links to this post
Sorry Guys
Sunday, April 1, 2007
I havent posted in a little bit, I have accumulated a ton of parts for my 408 stroker, I will be posting them tommorow. My heads are coming as we speak. I got my vic jr intake, my solid roller custom ground billet camshaft, my new demon carburetor and a bunch of other stuff. Stay tuned
posted by SteveO @ 8:54 PM, , links to this post
